FREGAR LOS TRASTES

 

"Fregar (lavar) los trastes" (to do the dishes) is a recent addition to my Bilingual Phraseological Dictionary in progress. I recently came across the expression and added it to my Spanish vocabulary. At my age, I am still learning new phrases and words in both languages. Laura Esquivel gives a citation and usage: "... le correspondía lavar los pañales del más pequeño de sus hijos y luego ponerlos a remojar en una cubeta, lavar los trastes del desayuno." (Tan veloz como el deseo, 2001. México.) Common in El Salvador, Costa  Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, and more than in Spain. Pots and pans would be a good translation for "trastes." But I must go. My wife has just told me  "tienes que fregar los trastes antes de acostarte." Her wish is my command.